%&>/3a&  rtoZSL  *&.' 


\r  /?  -'<< /**>£> 

r-  "     ^vit^ '  7\       ~^>  ^ 

^^m  ,, 


-/  ^r  $^p   RJA^Spl 

k^fefc:  .". 


LIB  RjARY 

OF   THE 

U  N  IVERSITY 
Of    ILLINOIS 


I  y/  < 

*    ,-sY, 

-»•».'   L* 


^K         oSfiK£ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 


URBANA,  MARCH,   1901. 


BULLETIN  No   64. 


TREATMENT  OE  OATS  EOR  SMUT. 


BY  ARCHIBALD  D.  SHAMEL,  B.  S.,  INSTRUCTOR  IN  FARM  CROPS,  COLLEGE 

OF  AGRICULTURE,  AND  SPECIALIST  IN  FARM  CROPS,  AGRICULTURAL 

EXPKKI.M KNT  STATION. 


The  loss  to  the  farmers  of  Illinois,  due  to  smut  in  the  oat  crop, 
is  usually  underestimated  for  three  general  reasons;  viz.:  1.  The 
smutted  stalks  arc  usually  shorter  than  the  healthy  ones,  and  are 
consequentl}7  overlooked  in  an  examination  of  the  fields.  2.  The 
smutted  heads  do  not  always  push  out  of  the  rolled  up  leaves,  so 
that  these  stalks  are  counted  as  merely  dwarfed  plants,  when,  if 
the  leaves  are  unrolled,  the  heads  will  be  found  to  be  smutted.  3. 
The  smut  ripens  several  days  earlier  than  the  healthy  stalks,  so 
that  by  the  time  the  oats  are  ripe  the  smut  spores  have  been  mostly 
whipped  off  by  the  wind,  in  many  instances  leaving  a  bare  stalk  or 
stub-.  In  such  cases  the  damage  is  not  recognized  as  due  to  smut. 

The  actual  per  cent,  of  smut  in  any  field  of  oats  can  be  deter- 
mined as  follows:  Place  an  ordinary  barrel  hoop,  or  light  frame 
of  any  kind  of  convenient  size,  over  any  average  spot  of  oats  in  the 
field.  Count  all  of  the  stalks  inside  the.  hoop  and  note  the  number. 
Then  count  the  stalks  affected  by  smut  and  divide  the  number  of 
smutted  stalks  by  the  total  number  of  stalks.  This  operation  re- 
peated in  three  or  more  places  in  every  field,  in  order  to  get  an 
average,  will  determine  the  per  cent,  of  smutted  stalks  for  the  en- 
tire field. 

The  accompanying  table  gives  the  result  of  careful  tests  made 

57 


BULLETIN    NO.   64. 


[March, 


1901.]  TKKATMKNT   OF   OATS    FOR    SMUT.  5g 

last  season  in  almost  every  prominent  oat  growing  county  of  the 
state.  The  per  cent,  of  smut  varies  from  1  to  36  with,  an  average 
over  the  entire  state  of  about  14  per  cent.  With  an  oat  crop  of 
130,000,000  bushels  in  Illinois  in  1900  this  means  a  loss  of  not  less 
than  $4,000,000  in  profits  to  the  farmers  of  Illinois. 

The  table  gives  the  name  of  the  farmer  making-  the  count,  the 
postoffice  address  and  county,  the  variety  of  oats  as  far  as  known, 
the  number  of  counts  made,  and  the  average  per  cent,  of  smut. 

AMOUNT  OF  SMUT  IN  DIFFERENT  VARIETIES  GROWN  AT  THE  EX- 
PERIMENT STATION. 

A  careful  count  of  the  amount  of  smut  in  the  varieties  of  oats 
tested  at  the  Experiment  Station  was  made  last  season,  and  the  re- 
sults of  these  tests  are  given  in  the  accompanying  table,  together 
with  the  yield  per  acre  of  grain  and  straw,  the  weight  per  bushel, 
the  time  of  maturity,  and  the  color  of  the  oats.  The  varieties 
having  the  small  per  cent,  of  smut,  as  a  rule,  give  the  largest  yield 
per  acre,  while,  as  a  general  thing,  the  varieties  with  the  large 
percentages  of  smut  give  the  lower  yields. 

NATURE  OF  SMUT. 

There  are  two  distinct  smuts  of  oats:  First,  the  so-called 
loose  smut,  and  second,  the  close  or  covered  smut.  In  the  loose 
variety  the  smut  is  a  dusty  olive  brown  mass  which  is  easily  blown 
away  by  the  summer  wind,  leaving  a  bare  stalk.  The  close  variety 
is  less  dusty  and  of  a  blackish  brown,  covered  by  the  original  hull 
of  the  oat  kernel,  so  that  in  many  cases  the  presence  of  the  smut  is 
undetected. 

The  smutted  kernels  are  made  up  of  a  mass  of  minute  spores 
or  seeds,  which  ripen  usually  several  days  before  the  oat  kernels 
ripen  and  just  when  the  oat  kernels  are  in  the  milky  stage.  At 
this  time  the  hulls  of  the  oat  kernels  are  open,  and  the  light  smut 
spores  floating  about  in  the  wind  find  a  secure  lodging  place  under 
the  hull  of  the  healthy  kernels. 

As  the  kernels  mature  and  dry  out,  the  hulls  close  tightly 
about  the  kernels  with  the  smut  spores  inside.  The  spores  also 
become  attached  to  the  outside  of  the  kernels  during  threshing  or 
in  the  oat  bin,  and  in  this  way  may  also,  it  is  believed,  give  rise  to 
smutted  oats. 

When  the  kernels  of  oats  are  sown  in  the  spring  with  the  smut 
spores  under  the  hull,  or  attached  to  the  outside,  the  spores  ger- 
minate and  send  slender  threads  into  the  young  oat  plant.  The 
smut  threads  grow  on  the  inside  of  the  oat  stalk  during  the  months 


6o 


BULLETIN   NO.  64. 


March, 


TESTS  FOR  SMUT  IN  OATS  MADE  IN  1900. 


Name  of  variety. 

Place  where  tests  were  made. 

No.  of 
tests. 

Per  cent, 
smut. 

Mixed. 

A.  D.  Hopps,  LaMoille,  Bureau  Co  

5 

JO   OO 

Black  

H.  Livergood,  Milledgeville,  Carroll  Co  

6 

1  1  .05 

White  

B.  Springer,  Virginia,  Cass  Co  

9 

12  68 

Early    white. 

J.  W.  Jordan,  Savoy,  Champaign  Co  

6 

11     C7 

Mixed. 

C.  E.  Walcher,  Millersville,  Christian  Co. 

8 

l8    80 

Black  

E.  Barnett,  Bible  Grove,  Clay  Co  

12 

7.O1 

Mixed  

J.  Beckemeyer,  Buxton,  Clinton  Co  

12 

1  1  34 

Silver  mine  

Nellie  Toland,  Humbolt,  Coles  Co  

12 

13.88 

Mixed  

F.  W.  Pfingsten,  Meacham,  Cook  Co  

12 

I^.OO 

Mixed,  late  

W.  Parr.  Arcola,  Douglas  Co  . 

12 

II    <\4 

Red  Texas  

E.  Wiseman,  Villa  Grove,  Douglas  Co  

12 

2.  50 

Black,  late  

E.  Turner,  Avena,  Fayette  Co  

T. 

12.?!; 

American  banner 

R.  Speedie,  Gibson  City,  Ford  Co  

9 

9.83 

Fourth  of  July.  .  . 
Common  white..  . 
Iowa  banner  

F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  19,  Sibley,   Ford  Co  
F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  20,  Sibley,  Ford  Co.... 
F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  21,  Sibley,  Ford  Co.... 

4 

2 
2 

17.87 
ii  .67 

5-57 

Late,  white  

F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  25,  Sibley,  Ford  Co  

2 

12.  10 

Fourth  of  July.  .  . 
Late,  white  

F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  28.  Sibley,  Ford  Co  
F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  30,  Siblev,  Ford  Co  

4 
3 

36.29 
11  -59 

Lincoln  

F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  35,  Sibley,  Ford  Co.  .  .  . 

2 

9.49 

Iowa  banner  
Medium  white... 
Late,  white  

F.  A.  WTarner,  Farm  38,  Sibley,  Ford  Co.  .  .  . 
F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  49,  Sibley,  Ford  Co  
F.  A.  Warner,  Farm  133,  Sibley,  Ford  Co  

4 

2 

3 

7-51 
7.O2 
7.00 

Calgrarv  erav 

J.  H.  Beagley,  Sibley,  Ford  Co  

12 

9.97 

Medium  white. 

G.  Hacker,  Canton,  Fulton  Co  

6 

4.68 

Mixed  

F.  Scanlon,  Avon,  Fulton  Co  

9 

9.51 

Mixed. 

F.  Roobe,  Schultz  Mills,   Greene  Co  

12 

21  .93 

White. 

R.  Clark,  Elvaston,  Hancock  Co  

9 

5.83 

Mixed  

W.  Sandquist,  Colona,  Henry  Co  

6 

11.05 

Mixed  

C.  Hurliman,  Cisna  Park,  Iroquois  Co  

9 

4.65 

Black  

H.  G.  Easterley,  Carbondale,  Jackson  Co  

9 

I.  00 

Early  black 

F.  Decker,  Jerseyville,  Jersey  Co  

12 

22.24 

Mixed  

F.  Heaton,  New  Burnside,  Johnson  Co  

9 

31-7^ 

Mixed. 

L.  Snow,  Vienna,  Johnson  Co  

12 

n.86  . 

Kansas  

F.  L.  Viall,  Manteno,  Kankakee  Co  

12 

6.08 

Texas  rust  proof 

L.  Crosby,  Wichert,  Kankakee  Co  

12 

2.93 

Mixed. 

J.  O.  Finley,  Oneida,  Knox  Co  

15 

5.72 

Mixed. 

S.  J.  Haight,  Jr.,  Mendota,  Lasalle  Co  

9 

4.52 

Mixed  

W.  O.  Perry,  Cornell,  Livingston  Co  

15 

18.25 

Mixed  

F.  Gardner,  Beason,  Logan  Co  

6 

13.15 

Mexican  gray 

F.  J.  Basting,  Vuton,  McLean  Co  

12 

8.90 

Mixed  

E.  J.  Soloman,  Carlinville,  Macoupin  Co  

9 

2.88 

Early  black 

G.  Hollenbeck,  Tonti,  Marion  Co   

12 

ii  .47 

Mixed. 

R.  Hill,  Whitefield,  Marshall  Co  

12 

8.22 

Silver  mine 

W.  W.  Stone,  Mason  City,  Mason  Co  

6 

7.87 

Early  black 

E.  Westerman,  Metropolis,  Massac  Co  

6 

6.67 

Mixed  

A.  E.  Wade,  Athens,  Menard  Co  

12 

5.83 

Lincoln 

G.  Lee,  Jr.,  Hamlet,  Mercer  Co  

12 

24.50 

Black 

J.  Schmidt,  Hecker,  Monroe  Co  

12 

15-13 

Mixed  

R.  J.  Simonson,  White  Oak,  Montgomery  Co. 

12 

6.42 

Mixed. 

F.  Alford,  Franklin,  Morgan  Co  

6 

12.43 

Texas  rust  proof 

W.  H.  Rowe,  Jacksonville,   Morgan  Co  

9 

1.83 

Black.     .    .. 

H.  Moore,  Atwood,    Piatt  Co  

6 

8-34 

Early  white  .. 

E.  G.  Ham,  Perry,  Pike  Co  

9 

17.14 

Early  black 

R.  Endicott,  Villa  Ridge,  Pulaski  Co  

9 

1.3-31 

Early  white  

W.  Eckhardt,  Buffalo  Prairie,  Rock  Island  Co. 

9 

12.65 

Iowa  silver  mine 
Early  white  
Golden  medium 

Wm.  Montgomery,  Reynolds,  Rock  Island  Co. 
F.  W.  Ladage,  Woodside,  Sangamon,  Co.  .  .  . 
James  L   Reid    Delavan    Tazewell  Co  

3 

12 

3 

4.78 
11.65 
i.  Co 

Mixed  ;  

R.  Bines,  Ridge  Farm,  Vermilion  Co  

12 

3-47 

1901.] 


TREATMENT  OP  OATS  FOR  SMUT. 


6i 


o 


cr 

0 


•-"   OO    -i   to   i-i<jivO   O\O   i-i-^O    to 


XXX 
ft   ft    ! 

O.Q.Q-' 


5".  * 

hifthiftcLcLftCLcLft 


ftftftftftftftft 


62 


BULLETIN  NO.   64. 


[March, 


tgOI.j  rkEATMENT   OK   OATS   FOR   SMUT.  63 

of  May  and  June,  so  that  there  is  no  outside  evidence  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  smut  plant.  When  the  oat  plant  begins  to  head  out, 
the  slender  smut  threads  penetrate  the  oat  kernels  and  develop 
each  kernel  into  a  mass  of  smut  spores. 

TREATMENT  TO  PREVENT  SMUT. 

It  has  been  found  that  it  is  possible  to  treat  the  seed  oats  so  as 
to  destroy  the  vitality  of  the  spores  of  smut  and  not  injure  the  life 
of  the  oat  kernel.  This  treated  seed  will  raise  a  crop  of  oats  free 
from  smut.  If  there  are  no  smutted  fields  near  by  where  the  treated 
oats  are  grown  the  oats  will  not  become  smutted  again  for  several 
years.  It  is  believed  that  treatment  once  every  fourth  year  will 
keep  the  oats  practically  free  from  smut. 

HOT  WATER  TREATMENT. 

The  apparatus  needed  for  treating  seed  oats  in  hot  water  con- 
sists of  an  ordinary  scalding  kettle,  one  barrel,  several  gunny 
sacks,  and  an  accurate  thermometer.  The  farmer  may  use  his 
ingenuity  in  the  selection  of  apparatus,  making-  use  of  whatever 
conveniences  he  may  have  at  hand  by  which  he  may  accomplish 
the  desired  result. 

The  kettle,  holding  from  35  to  60  gallons  of  water,  should  be 
filled  two-thirds  full,  and  the  temperature  of  the  water  raised  be- 
tween 132°  F.  and  137°  P.  The  barrel  should  be  placed  near  the 
kettle  of  hot  water,  and  be  filled  with  cold  water.  The  gunny 
sacks  should  be  large  enough  to  hold  two  bushels  of  seed  oats, 
which  can  then  be  dipped  into  the  hot  water.  The  sack  of  oats 
should  be  stirred  about  in  the  hot  water  so  that  the  oats  in  all 
parts  of  the  bag  will  be  treated  alike.  To  assist  in  manipulating 
the  sack,  a  sweep,  arranged  as  shown  in  the  illustration,  can  be 
used  to  advantage.  After  treating  for  five  minutes .  in  the  hot 
water  at  the  required  temperature,  dip  at  once  into  the  barrel  of 
cold  water  in  order  to  cool  the  oats  and  prevent  steam  from  collect- 
ing in  the  center  of  the  bag.  Sow  immediately  without  attempting 
to  dry. 

PRECAUTIONS. 

1.  An  ordinary  Fahrenheit  thermometer  to  be  had  at  any 
drug  store  costing  from  ten  to  fifty  cents  can  be  used  after  it  has 
been  compared  with  a  standard  thermometer.     It  should  register 
as  high  as  150°  F.  and  should  be  known  to  be  correct  at  135°  F. 

2.  The  temperature  of  the  water  should   not  be  allowed  to 


64  BULLETIN  NO.  64.  (March, 

fall  below  132°  F.  or  the  smut  will  not  be  completely  destroyed, 
nor  should  it  rise  above  140°  F. ,  as  the  vitality  of  the  seed  oats  is 
likely  to  be  injured. 

3.  After  -dipping  in  the  hot  water,  the  oats  should  be  dipped 
immediately  into  the  cold  water  to  prevent  over  heating-  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  sack. 

4.  Care   should   be  taken  to  sow  a  sufficient  amount  of   the 
soaked  seed  per  acre.     The  oats  being-  wet  and  swollen  there  is 
danger  that  too  little  seed  will  be  sown.     It  has  been  found  that 
about  two  pecks  per  acre  extra  measure  should  be  used. 

5.  Owing-  to  the  fact  that  there  is  very  little  drying-  weather 
at  the  seeding-  time  of  the  year,  it  is  practically  impossible  to  dry 
the  oats  and  they  must  be  sown  immediately.     It  has  been  con- 
sidered necessary  to  sow  by  hand,  but  reports  received  by  the  Ex- 
periment Station  from  farmers  who  tried  sowing-  the  wet  oats  in 
an  endg-ate  seeder  indicate  that  this  machine  may  be  used  success- 
fully, and  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state  a  number  of  farmers 
used  the  force    feed  drills  for  sowing-  the  wet  oats,    and    report 
success. 

In  case  it  is  not  desirable  to  treat  the  seed  for  the  entire  field, 
enoug-h  can  be  treated  to  sow  four  or  five  acres.  This  can  be  har- 
vested and  threshed  separate  from  the  rest  of  the  field,  and  these 
oats  can  be  used  for  seed  the  following-  year. 

It  has  been  found  that  the  simple  treating-  of  the  seed  oats  by 
the  hot  water  quickens  germination,  and  the  young  plants  make  a 
more  vigorous  growth,*  thus  increasing  the  yield  independent  of 
the  smut. 

COST. 

Two  men  in  one  day  can  treat  enough  seed  oats  to  sow  forty 
acres.  The  cost  of  treating  is,  therefore,  next  to  nothing,  not  ex- 
ceeding 10  to  12  cents  per  acre.  Nor  is  it  necessary  to  treat  the 
seed  every  year  in  order  to  keep  the  oats  free  from  smut,  for  treat- 
ment every  third  or  fourth  year  will  practically  prevent  all  loss 
from  this  fungus. 

RESULTS  OF  TREATMENT  AT  DIFFERENT  TEMPERATURES. 

Four  varieties  of  oats,  representing  the  varieties  of  white  and 
black  oats,  commonly  grown  in  Illinois,  were  used  in  this  experi- 
ment. Each  variety  was  sown  in  three  different  plots,  but  as  one 


*  Bulletin  No.  87,  Michigan  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 


1901.] 


TREATMENT  OF  OATS  FOR  SMUT. 


plot  in  each  variety  was  used  in  getting-  samples  for  the  purpose  of 
photographing1  the  results,  the  yields  of  only  two  plots  in  each  case 
were  secured.  The  seed  was  heated  at  125°,  132°,  137°,  140°  F., 
and  in  each  case  the  treated  seed  was  compared  with  a  plot  of  un- 
treated seed  to  determine  the  effect  of  treatment. 

In  the  illustrations  are  shown  samples  of  oats  cut  from  one 
plot  of  every  treatment  of  all  four  varieties.  The  stalks  of  smut 
were  separated  from  the  healthy  stalks,  counted,  the  per  cent,  of 
smut  determined,  and  the  smutted  stalks  tied  into  a  seperate  bun- 
dle. The  -bundles  of  smutted  stalks  were  then  placed  beside  the 
bundle  of  healthy  stalks,  and  the  per  cent,  of  smut  placed  under 
these  bundles,  after  which  the  photograph  was  taken,  so  that  the 
illustrations  show  clearly  the  actual  effect  of  the  treatment  on  the 
per  cent,  of  smut  in  the  different  treatments  of  each  variety. 

By  reference  to  the  accompanying  tables  the  per  cent,  of  smut 
and  the  yield  per  acre  of  both  grain  and  straw  can  be  seen.  It  will 
be  noticed  that  the  effect  of  treatment  was  not  uniform  in  all  the 
varieties  so  far  as  yield  is  concerned.  The  general  effect  of  treat- 
ment at  132°-137°  F.  was  to  increase  the  yield  per  acre,  while  at 
140°  the  yield  of  the  Sibley  white  was  reduced,  probably  due  to 
injury  to  the  seed  in  treating  at  this  temperature.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  yield  of  the  Leisman  oats  at  140°  was  greatly  increased, 
In  all  cases  there  is  a  variation  due  to  the  difference  in  soil  or  other 
conditions,  but  the  general  tendency  is  to  an  increased  yield  in  the 
treated  fields  over  the  untreated  fields. 

The  per  cent,  of  smut  was  greatly  reduced  by  the  treatment  at 
125°  F.  while  at  137°  F.  and  140°  F.  the  smut  was  practically  all 
destroyed  by  these  treatments.  In  general  it  may  be  safely  said 
that  treatment  by  hot  water  at  137°  F.  will  destroy  the  smut  in  the 
oats,  and  benefit  rather  than  injure  the  germinating  power  of  the 
oat. 

SEED  TREATED  FIVE  MINUTES.  TEMPERATURE  125°  F. 


Variety. 

Smut,  per  ct. 

Grain  per  acre, 
bu. 

Straw  per  acre, 
Ib. 

Sibley  black  No.  i  

tX 

50. 

4560 

Sibley  black  No.  2  

2 

56.20 

4">oo 

Sibley  white  No.  i  

o 

33.70 

5720 

Sibley  white  No.  2  

1^ 

37.80 

5080 

Iowa  prolific  No.  i  

5 

41.80 

474° 

Iowa  prolific  No.  2  

3 

48.70 

4280 

Leisman's  No.  i  

i 

48.70 

4840 

Leisman's  No.  2  

i^ 

47.50 

4880 

66 


BULLETIN  NO.  64. 


[March, 


SEED  TREATED  FIVE  MINUTES,  TEMPERATURE  132°  F. 


Variety. 


Smut,  per  ct. 


Grain  per  acre.jStraw   per  acre, 


bu. 


Ib. 


Sibley  black  No.  i l/2  48.10  4300 

Sibley  black  No.  2 J^  46.20  4680 

Siblej  white  No.  I I  37 .80  4460 

Sibley  white  No.  2 y/2  36.80  3800 

Iowa  prolific  No.  i I  50.  5120 

Iowa  prolific  No.  2 %  50.  4480 

Leisman's  No.  I i  47-5°  4880 

Leisman's  No.  2 o  42.50  5680 

SEED  TREATED  FIVE  MINUTES,  TEMPERATURE  137°  F. 

Variety.  Smut,  per  ct.j  Grainbpu<;r  **"*'  ^^  fiT  ^ 

Sibley  black  No.  I o  43. 10  4940 

Sibley  black  No.  2 o  48.10  4700 

Sibley  white  No.  i i%  42.50  4560 

Sibley  white  No.  2 ^  32.50  5040 

Iowa  prolific  No.  i - o  47-5°  S12° 

Iowa  prolific  No  2 l/$  53 .70  5160 

Leisman's  No.  I o  42 . 50  4560 

Leisman's  No.  2 o  48 . 70  4840 

SEED  TREATED  FIVE  MINUTES,  TEMPERATURE  140°  F. 

Variety.                   ~  Smut,  per  ct.  Gr&^  ™**™r^  acre' 

Sibley  black  No.  i o  48.10  4860 

Sibley  black  No.  2 i  37. 50  4960 

Sibley  white  No.  i 2  22.50  4560 

Sibley  white  No.  2 ^  34. 30  3700 

Iowa  prolific  No.  I l/2  48.10  5100 

Iowa  prolific  No.  2 o  51 .50  4600 

Leisman's  No.  i o  56 . 20  4700 

Leisman's  No.  2 o         5jj_. 4600 

SEED  NOT  TREATED. 

Variety.                          Smut,  per  ct.  Grainper  acre,  Straw  per  acre, 

Sibley  black  No.  1 77777..            9  36.80  5220 

Sibley  black  No.  2 36.80  4420 

Sibley  white  No.  i 8  27 . 50  3680 

Sibley  white  No.  2 7  32-5°  44&° 

Iowa  prolific  No.  i 8  44 .30  4820 

Iowa  prolific  No.  2 .' 7  46.20  4440 

Leisman's  No.  i 2%  43. 70  4640 

Leisman's  No.  2 2>£  43 . 70  4360 


FORMALIN  TREATMENT. 

The  formalin  treatment  for  smut  has  given  such  satisfactory 
results  that  this  method  of  treatment  is  recommended  wherever  it 
can  be  given.  The  ordinary  commercial  formalin,  a  forty  per  cent, 
solution  of  formic  aldehyde,  was  used.  This  material  can  be  ob- 
tained of  most  druggists,  or  if  they  do  not  have  a  supply  on  hand 
they  can  easily  secure  it  from  a  chemical  supply  house. 


1901.] 


TREATMENT  OK  OATS  FOR  SMUT. 


The  apparatus  necessary  for  treatment  is  a  tub,  several  gunny 
sacks,  and  a  supply  of  formalin.  Use  one  pint  of  formalin  to  twen- 
ty-five gallons  of  water.  Dip  the  seed  oats  in  the  gunny  sack  into 
the  tub  containing  the  water  and  formalin.  The  sack  of  oats 
should  be  so  arranged  that  all  of  the  oats  will  be  submerged. 
Leave  the  sack  of  oats  in  the  water  for  ten  minutes,  after  which 
they  can  be  taken  out  and  sown  immediately.  The  water  need  not 
be  warm  although  it  is  less  disagreeable  to  use  warm  water.  If 
the  oats  are  allowed  to  drain  a  few  moments  as  the  sack  is  lifted 
out  of  the  water,  the  twenty-five  gallons  will  treat  twenty  bushels. 

COST. 

The  cost  is  about  the  same  as  in  the  hot  water  treatment. 
Several  barrels  or  tubs  can  be  used,  so  that  a  large  amount  sf  seed 
can  be  treated  in  a  short  time.  The  formalin  is  inexpensive  not 
costing  more  than  twenty-five  cents  per  pint. 

RESULTS  OF  FORMALIN  TREATMENT. 

As  can  be  seen  in  the  illustrations  and  by  examination  of  the 
accompanying  table,  the  formalin  treatment  destroyed  the  smut  in 
every  variety.  Similar  results  were  obtained  at  Sibley  and  other 
points  in  the  state  where  this  treatment  wa^  tried.  The  yield  per 
acre  was  increased  and  the  fields  were  entirely  free  from  smut. 

FORMALIN  TREATMENT  OF  SEED. 


Variety. 

Smut,  per  ct. 

Grain   per  acre, 

bu. 

Straw  per  acre, 

Sibley  black  No.  I  

o 

48.  10 

4700 

Sibley  black  No.  2  

o 

48.  10 

t/^w 

4060 

Sibley  white  No.  i  

o 

31  .20 

412O 

Sibley  white  No.  2  

o 

40.60 

494O 

Iowa  Prolific  No.  i  

o 

"51.  10 

534O 

Iowa  Prolific  No.  2  

o 

55- 

SI  2O 

Leisman's  No.  i  

o 

56.20 

4840 

Leisman's  No.  2  

o 

69.30 

4340 

68 


BULLETIN   NO.   64. 


{March, 


THKATMF.NT   OF    OATS    FOR    S.MT'T. 


BULLETIN    NO.   64. 


{March, 


1QOI.] 


TkEATMENT  OF   OATS   FOR   SMUT. 


71 


TiN  NO.  64  \Mai\h,  igoi. 

ORGANIZATION 


BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES,  UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

THOMAS  J.  SMITH,  Champaign,  President. 
RICHARD  YATES,  Springfield,  Governor  of  Illinois. 
MARTIN  CONRAD,  Chicago,  President  State  Board  of  Agriculture. 
ALFRED  BAYLISS,  Springfield,  Superintendent  of  Public   Instruction. 
SAMUEL  A.  BULLARD,  Springfield.          MRS.  A.  A.  ABBOTT,  Chicago. 
MRS.  MARY  T.CARRIEL,  Jacksonville.     F.  L.  HATCH,  Spring  Grove. 
FRANCIS  M  McKAY,  Chicago.  A.  F.  NIGHTENGALE,  Chicago. 

THOMAS  J.  SMITH,  Champaign.  MRS.C.T.ALEXANDER,  Belleville. 


THOMAS  J.  BURRILL,  PH.D.,  Urbana,  Professor  of  Botany 

and  Horticulture,  President. 
J.  IRVING  PEARCE,  Chicago,  of  State  Board  of  Agriculture. 

H.  AUGUSTINE,  Normal,  of  State  Horticultural  Society. 
H.  B.  GURLER,  DeKalb,  of  State  Dairymen's  Association.    - 

MARTIN  CONRAD,  Chicago,  Trustee  of  the  University. 
FREDERIC  L.  HATCH,  Spring  Grove,  Trustee  of  the  University. 

STEPHEN  A.  FORBES,  PH.D.,  Urbana,  Professor  of  Zoology. 
EUGENE  DAVENPORT,  M.AGR.,  Urbana,  Professor  of  AnimalHusbandry. 

THE  STATION  STAFF. 

EUGENE  DAVENPORT,  M.AGR.,  Animal  Husbandry,  Director. 

THOMAS  J.  BURRILL,  PH.D.,  Botanist. 
CYRIL  GEORGE  HOPKINS,  PH.,D.,  Agronomy  and  Chemistry. 

STEPHEN  A.  FORBES,  PH.D.,  Entomology. 
DONALD  McINTOSH,  V.S.,  Veterinary  Science. 

JOSEPH  C.  BLAIR,  Horticulture. 

GEORGE   P.  CLINTON,  M.S.,  Botany. 

WILBER  J.  FRASER,  B.S.,  Dairy    Husbandry. 

L'  UIE  H.  SMITH,  M.S.,  Chemistry. 

ARCHIBALD  D.  SHAMEL,  B.S.,  Farm  Crops. 

CATHERINE  M.  McINTYRE,  Secretary. . 


a 


9P^ te'^^TW  q^F^  A^    mm  ^mt^ST^i 

^Fl-r    'afeb     x^y   !3gy  <<JifeJ^^          lmP&  *z7*.     $k.-> 


^ 

*A* 
Jl 


gjg     *.g?JV     ''^-**~j&*       ^ 


?Wi£L:'*i® fZ&,  &&    "f2 


,    (V.'V^J 


